Hurriyat office at Rajbagh attached by NIA

A day after court direction, NIA attaches head office of All Party Hurriyat Conference in Srinagar on Sunday. (UNI)
A day after court direction, NIA attaches head office of All Party Hurriyat Conference in Srinagar on Sunday. (UNI)

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 29: A day after the Delhi Court ordered the attachment of the Hurriyat Conference office at Rajbagh, the sleuths of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), today attached it.
“This is to inform all members of the public that the building where the office of All Party Hurriyat Conference is located at Rajbagh and is owned jointly by Nayeem Ahmad Khan, who is presently facing trial in case… has been attached by the court order dated 27th January 2023 by Special NIA Court Patiala House, New Delhi,” the signboard fixed at the office read.
Earlier, on Saturday in an order, Shaliender Malik, Additional Sessions Judge, New Delhi district, had ordered attachment of Hurriyat Conference office.
NIA has submitted in the court that the “property was being used for planning and execution of terrorist and secessionist activities” and for other offences and thus invoked the provisions of Section 33 (1) of UAPA to seek attachment of the property.”
In this case Nayeem Ahmad Khan was arrested during the investigation of this case on 24.07.2017 and was arraigned as accused no.5. Charge sheet was filed against 12 accused persons so far in this case.
The NIA stated that there is sufficient evidence in the form of documentary, electronic and oral to substantiate the charges framed against the accused Naeem Khan, it is prayed that the above said building which was being used by members of APHC for unlawful activities be attached.”
“Accused Nayeem Khan is a co-owner of that property and facing prosecution. There is an evidence that above mentioned immovable property was being used for planning and execution of terrorist and secessionist activities and for offences for which accused has already been charged, therefore above said property i.e. building/office of APIIC situated to Rajbagh Srinagar (UT of J&K) may be attached u/s 33(1) of UA(P) Act,” court had said.

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Citing several judgments, the court of Additional Sessions Judge New Delhi noted that Section 24 expands the expression of the “proceeds of terrorism” and makes it clear that such expression shall also include “any property intended to be used for terrorism”.
“The rub of repeated storming on its Hurriyat office and its widespread media telecast through state-controlled media is not lost on the people of Jammu and Kashmir – whether it is the sponsored assaults on the office by paid goons or few members of a certain community,” the Hurriyat Conference, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said in a statement.
“In a lopsided court order, the office has been ‘attached’ and in subsequent swift and dramatic action under media coverage notices put up on its walls, signalling some victory takeover,” it said.